Window latch



23. I M H 11 '27 g J6 L,

Oct. 26, 1948. HQUSEMAN 2,452,377

WINDOW LATCH Filed Feb. 13, 1947 QR gaea ihmentor Egg/ye U Haws/115w aGnome Patented Oct. 26, 1948 ,UNI TED. PTENT' OFFICE.

WINDOW LATCH GeorgeltanHouseman; Phoenix, Aria: Appmaaontamm 13, 1947,Serial No. teaser (01. aze-1);;

Glaims;

My invention relates-tolatches, but -more particularly to tamper prooflatchesforuseon screen doors and screen windows.

An obj ectof my invention is toprovide. a burglarl proof; springactuated; clam-ping typelatch,

so constructed that it cannot beoperated means of a wire or likeimplement pushed through the screen mesh. of a doonor Wind'ow on whichthe latch is mounted.

Another" objectof' my invention to provide: a latch which incorporates alongitudinallyextem sibl'ezarm arranged to work againsta spring in orderthat the latch inthe latched'position will: serve as a means torholdingia -doorvor window screen, on which it is mounted, tight upagainst the door frame or wmdearmme, as the case may be, to prevent thedoor or window screen from rattling when the wind blows'or whenvibrated. by some other cause.

Other objects and advantages of my invention against which the loweredge of the window screen contacts.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional plan view of a portion of thelatch illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded View of parts of the latch.

Figure 4 is an isometric elevational View of the keeper illustrated inFigure 1.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a portion of the latch and the keeperwhich illustrates an operation of a latch, and,

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 5 taken on line 6-6 ofFigure 5.

In the drawings numeral l0 designates a base plate shown screwed to thelower edge of the frame of the window screen s by means of screws l l.The base plate [0 is provided with an internally threaded socket l2adapted to receive a spring retaining shell I3 in which is housed ahelical compression spring 14. The compression spring l4 urges theplunger If: to its retracted position shown by the solid lines of Figure2, a position in which it contacts the base plate 10. The plunger l5,however, may be moved outwardly to an extended position, such asindicated 2; by i tsdottediine position of Figure-- 2; against the forceof thespringl tlto enable thelatch to mak'e contact with the keeper 28.r

The plungershaftl'fi formingan integraltpar-t of the plunger 8 5is-slidably: mounted in the shell l3 and terminates in a transverselyperforated slotted end IT. By:meansof a pivot pin t8 the perforatedflattened endotthe latch arm l9 is pivotably connected to the: plunger:shaft 1 I6? portion 2! retains the clamp-.23: on the-rounded;

portion 2!.

The clampv 23 comprises a pair; of: perforated I clamping arms 24"throughwhich the rounded portion: 2i of .the: latchrarmcl' 9 isextended: The: perforatedgclamping arms; :24"; are. joined; toegether,by means oil-a4 c.-spring-2&; vThe c-lamping;i

arms 24 terminata:iminwanflyj: curved.cooperate ing-clampinggjawswlfiiadapted-rte gripvtheukeener 28. The clamping arms 24 terminate inoutwardly curved handles 21 adapted to be gripped by the fingers of thehand in opening the clamping jaws 25 and for pulling the clamp 23 andlatch arm l9 assembly outwardly in opposition to the compression springIll. The keeper 28 is comprised of a base portion 29 which is adapted tobe fastened to a window ledge L by means of screws 38 or the like. Anupright portion 3| integrally joined to the base portion 29 carrying apair of parallel rearwardly extending ears 32 is extended upwardly atright angles from the base portion 29. Between the ears 32 a rod 33 isextended. The rod 33 has a diameter less than the diameter of the cars32. Due to this construction of the keeper the ears 32 serve as stops toprevent the clamp 23 from being slid off the rod 33 by means of a toolinserted through the screen mesh of a window screen or door screen thelatch is mounted on.

It is pointed out here that .this latch cannot be 'unfastened from theoutside of a window screen or screen door by means of any tool thatcould be worked through screen mesh. In order to remove the latch fromthe latch keeper 28 the handles 2'! and the clamp 23 must be squeezedtogether and then the clamp 23, in spread condition, must be pulled backfrom the rod 33 in opposition to the compression spring It.

The compression spring M, by holding the screen S tightly up against thewindow ledge L, prevents the screen S from rattling during a Windstorm.It is pointed out also that the compression spring l4 and the 0 spring26 Working together hold all of the movable par-ts of the latch underspring tensionand thus prevent its parts from rattling.

The above described invention in a latch embodyingthe compression springl4 and the 0 spring 25 constitutes a'fiexible latch, an ideal latchfoiuse on" window screens. The clamp 23 is operated in a very simplemanner by the thumb and forefinger of the hand. When the clamp 23 isopened and while it is still gripped between the thumb and forefinger ofthe hand it can be feasily pulled backwards into clamping position withthe rod 33. No difliculty will arise in fastening the clamp 23 to therod 33 because of any mall angular misalignment of the keeper 28 becausethe clamp 23 is pivotably mounted on the rounded portion 2i of the latcharm 19 permitting the turning of the clamp 23 into exact alignment withthe rod 33. All of these operations,

stated above, are carried out simply and naturallyby a person using onlyone hand and without changing his grip on the handles 21.

It'is to be understood that various changes in the size and arrangementsof parts of the screen latch and the accompanying keeper, illustrated inmy drawings and described in my specification, may be'resorted to withinthe scope of my invention. While my specification illustrates myinvention in'a latch employed on a window'screen it is to be understoodthat its use is not tov belimited to window screens, doors, or thei-likafor it may be used in many other constructions whereinlatches areneeded.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

'1. A device of the class described, comprising a base member adaptedfor attachment to a winsaid elongated latch arm terminates in a roundedportion extended in a substantially right angular direction with respectto the major axis of said elongated latch arm, and wherein said springclamp is rotatably mounted on said rounded portion of said latch arm.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said latch arm terminates ina portion extended at a substantial right angle to the major axis ofsaid latch arm, and wherein said means for engaging said latch keeper:consists in a spring clamp comprising a pair of complementary curvedjaws extending from said right angular portion of said latch arm in adirection toward said base member. Y V [-1 5., A device as claimed inclaim 4, wherein said complementary curved jaws are each provided with arearwardly extending, outwardly curved handle, said handles beingopposed to one another and adapted to be squeezed by fingers of the handin the opening movement of said curved jaws and the sliding movement ofsaid latch arm with respect to said base member.

GEORGE A. HOUSEMAN.

REFERENCES orrnn The following references arebf record in the file ofthis patentz FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Apr. 3, 1395Number Sweden Sept. 19, 1901

